Rennie St. James
About Rennie
Rennie St. James lives in a small town in southwestern Virginia. She has her BA in History and full time job outside of writing. In addition to her love of writing though, she enjoys traveling and often uses those experiences when choosing settings for her works. She has also studied Aikido (a defensive martial art) for over ten years and utilizes that training in her books as well. Rennie has three black cats – two of which were adopted from a local no-kill shelter on a dark, dreary Friday the 13th.
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1. In what kind of environment do you work best in?
I sneak in writing whenever I can but sometimes I think best while running, mowing the lawn or even shoveling snow. There’s something very therapeutic about engaging in physical activities that allow your mind free reign!
2. What's your favourite thing about being a writer?
I discovered fairly quickly with fanfiction and again with my original stories that I pay more attention when I’m writing. Using the world around me, I look for sensory details, emotional motivations, character habits and general inspiration. Not only do I then get to write about those things but I get to experience them on a deeper level. Writing forces me into a daily awareness and it has been the most rewarding gift…to then share that with others is even more fun!
3. How did you come up with the idea for your latest book?
Mia’s character, the animal connection and the basic story line of good vs evil came to me while I was in college. However, I had never written anything other than research papers and lit class assignments at that time so I didn’t know where to begin. I would try on and off every few months before I put it away for several years. Azimuth isn’t an exact match to my original character or plot but the essence of both remain.
4. Do you ever base your characters on people you know?
I’ve never consciously named or pictured any real person while writing a character. I actually take great pains to not do that. However, I do think parts of myself, my friends, characters from my favorite books, TV shows and movies all influence pieces of my characters to one degree or another.
5. Do you ever wish that some of your characters were real?
Oh definitely! I can picture them so clearly in my mind that it often feels like they are real and just sharing their memories of events with me. It’s as if I’m chatting with an old friend as they tell me their story.
6. What do your family and friends think about your book/s?
It was very difficult to tell my family and friends but most have become my loudest and most enthusiastic supporters thankfully! It does always make me laugh when they read something I’ve written and then tell me they were surprised at it being good…I assume they have set pretty low expectations for me! :)
7. Do you plan out your books or do you just go with the flow?
A little of both actually. I love to plan so I research, take notes and create a detailed outline…the characters do not always cooperate though. It became an inside joke to me the number of times I revised my “outline” for Azimuth. Now that I’ve started on the next one I’m facing the same challenges but I wouldn’t have it any other way as I love that the characters surprise me!
8. Who is your favourite author?
I don’t have a single favorite author or even genre as I read whatever suits my mood. I grew up on historical romances but Wilson Rawls (Where the Red Fern Grows) had a huge impact on my childhood. There have been books that I read in college for research papers that also stayed with me (Treblinka by Jean Francois-Steiner). I’ve read the works of Jane Austen repeatedly but have done the same with books by Michael Crichton. I do still enjoy romances and almost always take a Nora Roberts, Kay Hooper or Lyndsey Sands book on vacation with me. I’m not very patient so often I will read a series after watching the first movie (Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer). Of course, JK Rowling and the Harry Potter books will always have a permanent place on my bookshelf!
9. What’s next for you?
More of the same I think and hope – I work full time, write for fun and travel whenever I can. I’m very fortunate to enjoy good health and have wonderful family and friends close to me. I try to stay active and always find new experiences and I hope to keep including my own adventures in my writing!
10. What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Write! Regardless of the research you do or even the heartfelt desire motivating you, the bottom line is that you have to write! Write poems, fanfic, short stories, anything, just write! You can and will learn as you go but you have to start somewhere and that’s by actually writing.
11. What’s your favourite movie?
Like many things that changes with my mood and I can’t pick just one! I can watch Pride & Prejudice almost any time but the same can be said for Marvel’s The Avengers and The Princess Bride! I actually consider those “modern classics” so lesser known favorites of mine include The Negotiator, Serenity and The Craft.
12. What’s your favourite season and why?
Definitely the fall – cooler temps, colorful leaves, Halloween candy and scary movies. It’s that wonderful time between the chaos of a hot summer with busy crowds and too much to do and a blustery winter with busy crowds and too much to do.
13. How do you handle writers block?
I now expect there to be difficult moments whenever I’m writing and I think having that expectation helps me handle the frustration of writer’s block. Stepping away and doing something physical (even if that means a walk around the block) works wonders for me. I will also switch to writing on something else so I can keep writing. Certainly not everything I write ends up in the story and not every story idea gets developed; however, it is always good to keep challenging myself to simply keep writing.
14. If you weren’t a writer what would your dream job be?
Photographer – I would love to travel the world and simply take pictures! I started creating flip books of family vacations a few years back and I’m obsessed with finding unique angles, changing color settings and basically trying new things. As many of my ideas do not work out though so I even include a page in each book of fun mistakes!
15. Sweet or sour?
I certainly have a sweet tooth so I would have to go with sweet in whatever form it comes in – ice cream, cupcakes, candy bars, frothy caffeinated beverages. I am all about the sweet!
16. Do you believe in fate?
I believe some points along our journeys are meant to be. However, I also believe that there are many ways to get to those fated moments and many ways to go after them. We always have a choice.
17. If you could have any super power what would it be and why?
While it is very cliché, I would have to say flying! I have had wonderful dreams where I can fly and it’s such an amazing feeling…in the real world I’ve had a single tandem skydiving experience which was absolutely incredible. Flying would definitely be my choice!
Azimuth
Mia Rayner just discovered her family ancestors were ancient protectors of gifted leaders. Now she must protect an eight year old Romani seer herself before she has even finished her training. She does have help from not one but two reluctant warriors, a doctor and a Romani witch...assuming they stay and assuming they actually provide help.
A journey across the U.S. turns more deadly for a mismatched band of protectors as they try to shield a gifted young girl and also train her new guardian to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
Mia Rayner seeks to take her place in her family line of protectors and protect her charge…even though she only learned of Nadya’s existence and her own family past mere weeks before. Cayden Jodhani is Mia’s reluctant warrior trainer with his own scarred family history. Syeira Durrante represents her Gypsy heritage proudly even as she tries to find her place in their new world. Tobar and Nicu Lomas are brothers who, as different sides of the same coin, seem more different than alike. All have been brought together to protect Nadya – an eight year old Romani Seer who protects her own secrets even as she reveals their future.
Their path is fraught with danger as others seek to steal the power and prestige of the prophecies from Nadya and Mia. Two powerful societies hidden underneath the surface of the civilized world come to light as battle lines are drawn and everyone will need to choose a side.
Azimuth will be available to buy from July 3rd
Check it out here
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/540718
Still want to more?
You can find Rennie here
http://www.wattpad.com/user/RennieStJames
https://www.facebook.com/people/Rennie-St-James/100009482469323
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13830215.Rennie_St_James
http://www.renniestjames.com/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Rennie-St-James/100009482469323
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13830215.Rennie_St_James
http://www.renniestjames.com/
